Women and youth groups in their numbers in Kaduna metropolis, members of the Market Traders Associations of Nigeria (MATAN) Kaduna State chapter, came out over the weekend and protested against the antics of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and re-affirmed their loyalty and support to the administration of
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The groups’ and associations’ leaders alleged that they know some deceit is being demonstrated among their members by Malam El-Rufai ever since his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). They thus came out to announce their stance against him and compassion for Governor Sani, who is wiping away their tears and pains caused to them by El-Rufai.
The protesters lamented bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, announcing that they were taking the seat where Governor Uba Sani sat and called on people of Kaduna not to be misled.
They narrated their ordeal in the last eight years of the previous government, when hundreds of market stalls belonging to traders were forcibly taken over, destroyed or confiscated, a problem which unleashed poor health on the majority of traders and entrepreneurs and led to paralysis and many deaths among fellow traders.
We have been in business for over 40 years and never witnessed the degree of setbacks we incurred under the previous El-Rufai administration.
“Several lives were lost, several finances were ruined as a result of his kind of policies. We are here to inform you with one voice that anything that would reintroduce such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t need it,” said Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, addressing the colossal crowd of traders.
He expounded that “this current Governor began healing our wounds, wounds which were literally amputated by the immediate past Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing it very well and that’s why we have been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who just like Governor Sani, has been heading in the right direction, coming up with programmes and plans that will heal these wounds.”
He added never in their lifetime have they been having this type of leadership influence in Kaduna market as they are presently experiencing. “Now we have so many incentives, so many policies that are pushing us towards progress. We are now standing with one voice to condemn anything that would reverse this,” he stated.
Also in attendance, Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, testified on behalf of their leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all leaders of traders in the 23 councils of Kaduna State, that they were there to show solidarity with Governor Sani who had cared for them and protected their interest.
In his words, “we have to say so, having suffered the traumatic experience in the hands of the last administration. The wound is yet to heal and many are yet to heal.”
“Allah Almighty, however, sent us Governor Uba Sani and he said he wouldn’t do anything bad to the traders because the world survives on businesses. All the most beloved nations such as China, Canada, UAE, India, all take pride in and welcome their traders and other businessmen.”.
“Sadly, we were under the previous government where none of them was sympathetic or compassionate to businessmen. Around 36 markets were demolished at the time. None of them was rehabilitated fully to this date, and we are suspicious about the complicity of the previous administration and the developers of the market.”.
We are therefore calling upon Governor Uba Sani, our Governor with a heart of gold and mercy, to look into this issue with a view to tackling it. We are with Uba Sani one hundred per cent,” he said.
One of the market association leaders, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz, informed journalists that they have turned out en masse to reiterate their solidarity to the APC and to Governor Uba Sani who has helped the market men and women in Kaduna State immensely.
“Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were seized. But today we give thanks to God that everybody has been given back their shops and nobody will seize it again,” she continued.
She stated that she was thrilled that individuals who had frustrated the market women from thriving had left the party and government. “We have been crying. Most market women lack capital; they have been deceiving us. But today, I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to help us,” she stated.
The protesters subsequently marched along streets, bearing placards inscribed with some messages criticizing the previous arrangements and singing praises of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
